COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, November 09, 2020

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor Carly Bailey

Given the ongoing Garda investigation into alleged wrongdoings at the Ashton Dog Pound, can the Chief Executive please advise how this matter is being handled by SDCC? Are there any provisions contained within the existing contract that relates to improper practices and what would occur if something were to come to light or be referred to the Gardaí for further investigation? I understand the contract for dog pound services for SDCC will be up for tender again at the end of this year. It would appear that Ashton Dog Pound is the only provider to tender for this contract, which also includes the other Dublin Local Authorities. Does SDCC intend to continue to contract with Ashton Dog Pound given these circumstances? If the Garda investigation is still underway of if the case is taken further by the time the contract falls due for tender, can the Chief Executive advise as to what SDCC will do to ensure service is continued? Can the Chief Executive advise whether SDCC has been in contact with the other Dublin Local Authorities to discuss this concerning development? Is the Chief Executive aware that Dublin City Council is conducting its own investigation into the facility? Would the Chief Executive agree that it would be worthwhile to carry out a similar investigation by SDCC? Has the Chief Executive considered my suggestion to talk with the other Dublin Local Authorities and look to seek funding to set up a public dog pound for the Dublin area, one that aims to put animal welfare at the heart of all its work?

REPLY:

The Control of Dogs Act 1986, Section 15(2) provides for the establishment and maintenance of "one or more shelters for dogs seized, accepted or detained under any of the provisions of this Act" and authorises the local authority to "enter into arrangements with any person for the provision and maintenance of such shelters and for the exercise by such person of the functions of the local authority under this Act, in respect of the acceptance, detention, disposal and destruction of stray and unwanted dogs" 

South Dublin County Council employs two full time Dog Wardens. Ashton Dog Pound and Warden Service provides the Council with a Dog Pound Service.

The existing contract continues to be monitored and reviewed as part of contract management and oversight. Policies and procedures are regularly reviewed, most recently relating to maintaining services during Covid 19 and lockdown and any required changes to protocols for health and safety purposes.

The contract provides for services to South Dublin County Council including:

The pound is regularly inspected by Council staff. In addition, the Council’s veterinary Inspectors carry out regular unannounced inspections, at least monthly. To date in 2020, eight such inspections have been carried out. None of these inspections have revealed any issues regarding the welfare of dogs in the pound. Improvements to the facilities have been carried out during the current contract and have been documented.

Ashton Pound Service has an excellent working relationship with the DSPCA, and any dogs taken into the Pound which require veterinary care are treated by the DSPCA. 24-hour access to veterinary care is provided for all dogs in the Pound. The pound operator works with the public and several rescue groups to achieve a high level of rehoming. In 2019 94% of stray, abandoned or unwanted dogs from the South Dublin Administrative Area were either reclaimed by their owner or rehomed.

Ongoing training for Pound staff and Council staff is provided through several sources including attending training seminars and conferences arranged by the Department of Agriculture with updates on legislative changes and through liaison with other Local Authorities Dog Warden services.

South Dublin County Council continually engages with the other local authorities in relation to Control of Dogs matters, including pound services. A close working relationship exists between the Dublin Local authorities and there is continual proactive liaison on matters related to the pound service. SDCC is aware that Dublin City Council recently carried out a review related to the service being provided to them by Ashton Dog Pound and Warden Service, which includes Pound and Warden services.

The sum of €457,700 is provided in the 2020 adopted annual budget for expenditure in respect of Control of Dogs activities, of which approximately €137,500 is provided for the provision of the pound services outlined above.

The Contract between South Dublin County Council and Ashton Dog Pound and Warden Service expires on 31st December 2020. Prior to this expiry date the Council proposes to go to tender for the provision of Pound Services for the South Dublin administrative area.

An Garda Síochána are currently carrying out an investigation in relation to allegations made in relation to certain aspects of Pound Operations and the Council is not therefore in a position to comment on specifics in relation to Pound operations which may prejudice these investigations.